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Risk factors for recurrence of febrile convulsions
N Thilothammal1, V S Devi, K G Kamala
1Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Child Health & Hospital for Children, Madras.
Insights
This study followed 100 children for one year to understand febrile convulsion recurrence. While risk factors showed a trend, no statistically significant increase in recurrence was found, possibly due to sample size.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Febrile convulsions are common in children.
- Identifying risk factors for recurrence is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the natural course of febrile convulsions in children.
- To determine if specific factors predict recurrence risk.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 100 children (3 months-5 years) for one year.
- Analysis of risk factors: age of onset, convulsion duration, family history, and combinations.
- Comparison of recurrence rates between risk groups and a control group.
Main Results:
- Children with risk factors showed a trend towards higher recurrence rates compared to controls.
- Statistical significance was not reached, potentially due to small sample sizes within groups.
- No definitive predictive value for the studied risk factors was established.
Conclusions:
- The studied risk factors did not significantly predict febrile convulsion recurrence in this cohort.
- Larger studies are needed to confirm the predictive value of these factors.
- Further research may refine the use of long-term anticonvulsant prophylaxis.
Abstract:
A cohort of hundred children with febrile convulsions, in the age group of 3 months to 5 years were followed up prospectively for one year to study the natural course of the illness, and to determine if specific factors would increase the risk of recurrence of febrile convulsions. The risk factors studied were age of onset under one year, long duration of convulsion (more than 15 minutes), family history of febrile convulsion or epilepsy and combination of two or all of the above factors. Four groups of children with different risk factors were followed up for recurrence of convulsion, after the first attack. A group of children without any risk factor was considered as control and they were also followed up for recurrence of convulsions. Though all the groups with the risk factors, showed a trend towards a higher recurrence rate when compared to controls, the difference observed clinically was not significant statistically. This could be due to the small sample size of each group. A larger study could throw light on the predictive value of these risk factors and narrow down the use of long term anticonvulsant prophylaxis.